Magneto apparatus



May 27, 194.1- w. D. cRocKl-:R 2,243,418

MAGNETO APPARATUS Filed lay 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l if J INVENT OR.

` Maf/w Kaff/5f O o WQ@ @ad ATTORNEY.

- 5??.4 We Z0 Ml!! 27, 12941 w. D. cRocKER 2,243,418

MAGNETO APPARATUS Filed llay 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

/J /l T/Z Maf/,4f a. arm/rar dla/Q4@ A TTORNEY Patented May 27, 1941 HAGNEID APPARATUS American Bosch Maoorporation of New York Application In! 15, 194., Seth! No. 335,244

(CL P11-209) llclalml.

in a stack by one or more rivets and to which is fastened, preferably by the same rivet or rivets. one or more pressure springs for maintaining the coil core resiliently in magnetic contact in the stator circuit when the element is installed in the magneto with its spring or springs reacting against abutments provided for that purpose. Preferably, these rivets have projecting handles for removing and replacing 'the element as a unit.

The improvements by which these and other objects are attained will be understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, as an example, a single embodiment of a flange-mounting multicylinder magneto with a permanent magnet rotor and a. geared distributor. In these drawings,

' Fig. l is a longitudinal elevation, mostly in central section. of the preferred form of magneto; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof with parts in top plan view; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the distributor gear bracket; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the magneto with the distributor plate and gearing removed; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the bearing and interrupter bracket in place on its seat; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the bracket.

In the drawings, the reference numeral i designates a unitary die-cast frame open at its opposite front and rear ends and havim near its front or drive end an integral cross member 2 a labyrinth ventilator as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. A bottom portion I2 of the frame has a circular seat at Il, on which is rigidly fastened by screws Il a bracket Il providing, among other things hereinafter described, a rear plain bearing il for theshaft l.

Two stacks i1 of one-piece magnetic conducting laminations. having pole pieces of well known form and upstanding arms Il, are fastened rigid-ly by screws i! against thickened abutments 2l in the frame (Pig. 2). These stacks, together with the high tension ignition coil 2l having a core 22 with projecting ends. form the stator magnetic structure cooperative with the magneto rotor hereinafter described. The coil core 22 comprises a stack of magnetic laminations riveted at each end by a stud or rivet 28 having a projecting handle Il of larger diameter. Underneath the head of each stud is rigidly held a bent nat pressure spring Il arranged to press against lugs Il inside the frame and hold the core-I2 resiliently in magnetic contact with the ends of' arms Il. By means of the handles 2l of the two studs, the coll. core and springs may. as a unit. be readily removed and installed through the open end of the frame when the distributor plate 0 is ol, and the distributor gear and support are removed as will be apparent later. Furthermore. a new unit may be readily installed in the stator in case breakdown or damage occurs in operation.

The magneto rotor comprises the shaft 8 on which is fastened in any suitable way a permanent magnet M cooperative with the stator magnetic structure. Rotatably fastened on the shaft in any suitable way is the cam 2| cooperative with the interrupter lever 21 of the interrupter assembly which is mounted on the rear face of the bracket il and is electrically connected by a wire il (Fig. 4) to the low tension terminal of the ignition coil 2|. This cam is held longitudinally on the shaft by the distributor pinion 2l which provides a'support for the ball bearing I and the oil seal 4. A longitudinal cylindrical extension l of the frame has an integral mounting flange O and contains a pocket at 1 for .enclosing an impulse or a drive coupling of any suitable type connected to a shaft of an engine in proper speed ratio and timing and to the magnetic rotor shaft .Q of the magneto. The rear end of the frame is open for its full height and width for accomodation of a distributor plate l fastened thereto, and the bottom of the trame is open at I0 for the formation with a perforated box Ii of which has `a tongue and groove drive with the cam It and is held longitudinally thereon by screw 2f. The bracket ii carries a plain bearing It of porous composition material and has in its side wall a sealed lubricator comprising a reservoir 3U in which an oil-saturated absorbent plug li is pressed into contact with a wick $2 extending around the back of the bearing l'i so as to supply oil to the bearing surface. A cover Il is staked in place against the gasket 3l to seal the reservoir against the loss of oil and the entry of foreign matter irrespective of the angular mounting position of the magneto on carrying at the other end a distributing-electrode' 4I which cooperates sequentially with the equally-spaced circularly arranged jumpspark electrodes 42 fixed in the distributor plate 9. This plate has the sparkplug cable outlets 43 arranged in stepped and angularly offset relation (Fig. 2)

and a window 44 for convenience in timing the magneto. Also the plate `carries, near its bottom,

a short circuit terminal which is adapted to be connected outside the magneto to a short circuiting switch, as is well known, for shutting off the ignition, and is connected inside the magneto by a flat spring 46 in resilient contact with the electrical conductor 41 between the live terminals of the interruptor and condenser of the interrupter assembly. Since the conductor vis fairly stift, the spring 46 maintains good contact therewith as a result of its resiliency and more particularly as a result of normal vibration of the magneto in service and the scraping action at the contact surfaces thereof upon removing and replacing the distributor plate in service.

'I'he bearing 40 is carried by the support 48 of insulating material which is fastened by screws 49 to the upstanding arms 35 of the bearing bracket i5. As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the threaded holes 33 and 31 are at slightly different elevations from the axis of rotation "of the magneto rotor shaft 8 to provide for vertical adjustment of the support 48 in accordance with the desired ratio of the distributor gearing. For instance, for a 4-cylinder magneto in which the gear 38 is driven by the pinion 28 at half speed, the lower holes are used whereas for a -cylinder magneto for which the gearing ratio is one-third, instead of one half but the pinion 23 is of smaller pitch diameter, the upper holes are used. In this way the magneto may be converted readily for use with different numbers of engine cylinders,

an appropriate distributor plate 9 being provided in each case.

At the front end of the shaft 39, along the axis of rotation thereof, is a screw 53 of suitable metal forming one electrode of a spark gap connection between the high tension terminal 50 of the ignition coil 2| and the distributing electrode 4|. The other electrode 5| of this'connection is formed by a fiat member of coldrolled steel fastened non-rotatively with the phosphor bronze spring 52 (and in eil'ect an extension thereof) in a slot at 53 in the bracket by means of a screw 54, this spring extending into resilient contact with the coil terminal 50 and upwardly therefrom to form a safety spark gap with the frame. By reason of a small clearance of the perforation in electrode i around the screw 54, the'ahnular gap at l5 between the perforation in that electrode and electrode 58 maybe adjusted, and in fact this gap may have a depth as little as almost no tolerance owing to the small diameter of the electrode and its location at the axis of rotation of the distributor rotor. Furthermore, since the integral circular extension 5B of the bracket forms an insulating shroud around the spark gap connection and particularly confines the gases therein, the spark gap in operation becomes stabilized in an ionized condition and thereby further reduces the impedance to the passage of the ignition current impulses across the gap and likewise the energy loss thereat. The integral barriers 51 increase the leakage distance between the bearing 40 and the screws 49.

The way of assembling the magneto herein described, and the method of its operation and installation on an engine, will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also it will be obvious that this unitary coil element may be used in single and multicyclinder magnetos of any type in which the coil core is a part of the stator magnetic structure, and that this and other features herein disclosed may' be used in magnetos in which the magnetic rotor or the magnetic stator includes the permanent magnet.

While a single embodiment only is herein disclosed, it is obvious that various other embodiments and variations of parts thereof, including those mentioned above, are within the scope of this invention and are therefore intended to be covered by a broad interpretation of the appended claims. Some of the features common to this magneto and those disclosed in my application Serial N o. 335,243 iiled concurrently herewith are claimed therein and not in this application, comprising generally the labyrinth ventilator.

Having thus described my invention, what I clairnis:

l. In a magneto; a unitary frame having an interior abutment; a magnetic stator including pole pieces and connecting arms and also including an ignition coil having a core bridging said arms; and a spring fastened to said core and reacting against said abutment to hold said core resiliently in magnetic contact with said arms; said coil, core and spring being removable and replaceable as a unit.

2. In a magneto; a unitary frame having interior abutments; a magnetic stator including -pole pieces and connecting arms and also including an ignition coil having a core projecting on the two ends thereof and bridging said arms; and springs respectively fastened to the projecting ends and reacting against said abutments to force said core resiliently into magnetic contact with said arms; said coil, core and springs being removable and replaceable as a unit.

3. In a magneto; a frame having an interior abutment; a magnetic stator including pole pieces and connecting arms and also including an ignition coil having a core bridging said arms; a spring reacting against said abutment to hold said core resiliently in magnetic contact with said arms; and a stud fastening said spring to said core and having a projecting handle for removing and replacing said coil, core and spring as a unit.

4. In a magneto; a, frame having an interior abutment; a magnetic stator including pole pieces and connecting arms and also including an ignition coil having a laminated core bridging said arms; a spring reacting against said abutment to hold said core resiliently in magnetic contact with said arms; and a rivet holding the laminations of the core in a stack and fastening said spring thereto; said coil, core and spring being removable and replaceable as a unit.

5. In a magneto; a unitary frame having interior abutments; a magnetic stator including pole pieces and connecting arms and also including an ignition coil having a laminated core projecting on the two ends thereof and bridging said arms; for each projecting end of said core a spring reacting against one of said abutments to hold said core resiliently in magnetic contact withsaidarms. andarlvetholdingsaidlaminationsinastackandfasteningsaidspringthereto; each of said rivets having a projecting handie for removing and replacing the coil, core and springs as a unit. f

6. As a unitary element for a magneto of the xed coil type; an ignition coil: a core therefor comprising laminations of magnetic conducting material; a rivet securing said laminations in a stack; and a pressure spring fastened to said core by said rivet.

7. As a unitary element for a magneto of the fixed coil type; an ignition coil: a core therefor comprising lamlnations of magnetic conducting material; a rivet securing said laminations in a stack and having a projecting handle; and a pressure spring fastened to said core.

8. As a unitary element for a magneto of the fixed coil type: an ignition coil; a core therefor comprising laminations of magnetic conducting material projecting at both ends of the coil; and for each projecting end of the core a rivet securing said laminations in a stack and having a' projecting handle, and a pressure spring fastened to said core by said rivet.

9. In a multicylinder magneto; Aa frame; a magnetic stator in said frame; a magnetic rotor; a bracket arranged across said frame and having upstanding arms and a bearing for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator; a distributor gear driven by said magnetic rotor; and a support fastened across said arms and having a bearing for said gear.

l0. In a multicylinder magneto; a frame; a magnetic stator in said frame; a magnetic rotor; a bracket arranged across said frame and having upstanding arms and a bearing for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator: a distributor gear driven by said magnetic rotor; and a support detachably fastened in adjusted position across said arms and having a bearing for supporting said gear with its axis at a predetermined elevation above the axis of said rotor.

11. In a multicylinder magneto; a frame; a magnetic stator in said frame: a magnetic rotor; a bracket arranged across said frame and having upstanding arms and a bearing for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator; a distxibutcr having a gear driven by said magnetic rotor and a distributing electrode. said gear be ing of insulating material and having a metal shaft onwhich said distributing electrode is fastened; and a support of insulating material fastenedacrosssaidarmsandhavingabearingior said shaft.

12. In a magneto; a frame; mounting means for said frame;- a magnetic stator in said frame; a magnetic rotor; at least one plain bearing in said frame for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator: and a lubricator for said bearing comprising a reservoir extcnding at least partly around said bearing, and a member sealing said reservoir against the loss of lubricant therefrom and the entry of foreign matter thereinto. v

i3. In a magneto; a frame: mounting means for said frame: a magnetic stator in said frame; a magnetic rotor; at least one plain bearing of porous material for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator; and a lubricator comprising a reservoir containing oil-soaked absorbent material therein. a wick arranged in contact with said material and extending at least partly around the back of said porous-material, and a member sealing said reservoir against the Cit loss of lubricant therefrom and the-entry of foreign material thereinto.

14. In a magneto; a frame having a circular seat on the interior of its bottom; a magnetic stator fastened in said frame; a magnetic rotor; a bracket detachably fastened across said frame on said circular,seat and having a bearing for lsupporting said-rotor in cooperation with said stator: said bracket also containing a lubricant reservoir extending at least partly around said bearing; and a Amember sealing said reservoir against the loss of lubricant therefrom and the entrance of foreign matter thereinto.

15. In a multicylinder magneto; a frame; in said frame a magnetic stator including an ignition coil; a-rnagnetic rotor carrying a cam: a bracket arranged across said frame and having upstanding arms andra bearing for slmporting said rotor in cooperation with'said stator; a distributor having a gear driven by said magnetic rotor and also having a distributing electrodeA electrically connected to said coil; and a support fastened acrossV said arms and having a bearing for said gear; said bracket also having a sealed lubricator in its wall for the rotor bearing and an interrupter assembly on its rear face cooperating with said cam and electrically connected to said coil.

16. In a magneto; a frame having a circular seat on the interior of its bottom; a magnetic stator in said frame; a magnetic rotor: a bracket detachably fastened across said frame on said circular seat and having a bearing for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said stator;

- and an interrupter assembly mounted on the rear face of said bracket; said bracket having a sealed lubricant reservoir in its wall.

17. In a multicylinder magneto; a magnetic stator including an ignition coil; a magnetic rotor; a bracket having a bearing for supporting said rotor in cooperation with said'stator; a distributor having a gear driven by said magnetic rotor and a distributing electrode driven by said gear: a support carried by said bracket and having a bearing for said distributor gear: and' means carried by said support for electrically connecting said ignition coil to said distributing electrode.

18. In a multicylinder magneto; a frame having a bracket: in said frame a magnetic stator including an ignition coil; a magnetic rotor cooperative with said stator and journaled in said bracket; a distributor having a gear of insulating material driven by said magnetic rotor. a metal shaft fastened to said gear and a distributing electrode fastened on said shaft; an insulating support carried by said bracket and having a bearing for said shaft; and means carried by said support for electrically connecting said ignition coil to said shaft.

19. In a multicylinder magneto; a frame having a bracket; in said frame a magnetic stator including an ignition coil with a high tension terminal; a magnetic rotor cooperative with said stator and journaled in said bracket; a distributor having a gear of insulating material driven by said magnetic rotor, a metal shaft fastened to said gear and a distributing electrode fastened on said shaft; an insulating support carried by said bracket and having a bearing through which said shaft extends; a spring fastened to said support and extending into resilient contact with said terminal; and a spark gap connection having as its electrodes the extension of the gear shaft and an extension of said spring.

20 In a multicylinder magneto; a. frame; in said frame a magnetic stator including an ignition coil having a high tension terminal; a mag- A netic rotor cooperative with said stator; a distributor including a gear driven by said rotor and a distributing electrode driven by said gear; an insulating support fastened to said frame and having ya bearing for said gear; and means lor electrically connecting said terminal to said distributing electrode and including a. spring fastened to said support and extending into contact with said terminal: said spring having an end portion projecting beyond said terminal to form a safety spark gap with said frame.

2l. In a multicylinder magneto; a magnetic stator including an ignition coil; a magnetic rotor cooperative with said stator; a distributor having a rotary distributing electrode and a distributing plate cooperative therewith; an assembly including an interrupter lever cooperative with said magnetic rotor, a condenser and an electrical conductor extending between the live terminals of the interrupter and condenser; and a short circuiting terminal mounted on said distributor plate and-having a spring extending into engagement with said conducting member.

WILLIAM D. CROCKER. 

